Hey Byrn, Gayego Join Preakness
Recapturetheglory, Two Others Set to Test Big Brown A Second Time
Hey Byrn and Gayego will join Recapturetheglory in the Preakness Stakes May 17 to take a second crack at Kentucky Derby Champion Big Brown.
The Preakness Stakes may deliver the desired competitive excitement, as Hey Byrn and Gayego have joined Recapturetheglory in the field to push Kentucky Derby Champion Big Brown to a second test of will. Recapturetheglory was immediately pointed to the Preakness after finishing fifth in the Derby.
The second jewel of the Triple Crown is scheduled for May 17 at Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, MD.
Although he finished well in the crowded Derby field, Recapturetheglory was 15 lengths behind Big Brown's winning drive. Nevertheless, trainer Louie Roussel liked the colt's effort and is looking forward to a second chance at Big Brown.
Gayego Won Arkansas Derby
Gayego, a California-based runner, finished 17th in the Derby field of twenty. He won the graded 2 Oaklawn Park Arkansas Derby Apr.12, then returned to California. The Gilded Time colt, a good shipper, according to his trainer Paulo Lobo, arrived at Pimlico on a Wednesday flight with Yankee Bravo.
Lobo said Gayego is ready to go despite the traveling schedule he has endured over the past month. Getting a slow start in the large Derby field and encountering traffic problems put him out of contention, but not out of shape, Lobo said. Gayego is feeling happy and eating well, and his regular jockey, Hall of Famer Mike Smith, is ready to ride.
After Gayego's three-quarters of a length score in the Arkansas Derby, Smith said opponents should watch out for the colt in Kentucky. Smith hasn't changed his mind. In 1993, Smith won the Preakness unexpectedly aboard Prairie Bayou.
Hey Byrn Captured Holy Bull Stakes
The Apr.12 graded 3 Holy Bull Stakes winner, Hey Byrn, is set to challenge Big Brown in his own way. He is the only Preakness entrant besides Big Brown to have already run a distance of 1-3/16 miles. The Holy Bull Stakes was changed to the same distance as the Preakness this season.
Assistant trainer Frank Perez said the Put It Back colt thrived on the distance as he claimed a 2-1/4 lengths victory at Gulfstream Park. Hey Byrn faced the Big Brown Florida Derby blast Mar.29, finishing 15-3/4 lengths off Big Brown's victory. Hey Byrn was fourth.
Hey Byrn did not qualify with graded stakes earnings for the Derby. Head trainer Eddie Plesa, Jr. thinks that may have been a blessing in disguise, however, as the colt is more rested than the Derby champion he will challenge. Hey Byrn sports a career record of four wins from eight starts.
Big Brown's trainer, Richard Dutrow, Jr., has been preparing the Kentucky Derby champ with light works. He said he believes Brown can be less in the Preakness and still be more than any other horse.
